Deep space 9 revisited

Exactly, which begs the question, if the episode isn't continuing an arc, but does contribute strongly to character development, is it even fair to call it filler?

Filler to me is something completely and utterly devoid of any importance whatsoever, so it kinda feels wrong to tag say an episode as such if it does have a strong focal point.

Then again, there's even actual filler episodes I do like myself, like Move Along Home....contributes nothing at all, but it has that isolated weirdness that I kinda like in a serialised episode plot.

TNG could have genuine filler because it wasn't serialised, and the characters never really grew exactly. Although they could be deepened somewhat.

But I think every bit of DS9 works even when it's bad. You watch Season 1 and sure some episodes are a slog, but they often contain character moments that do work even within something ****. They give time for the characters to grow on you, for their nuances to pop, and perhaps most importantly for the actors to connect with them.

Obviously it would be great if they could churn out 26 A-rated episodes every season, but I still think they all offer something. I used to do selective DS9 rewatches, but this year I've done a full one, and I was surprised how much I got out of even the worst episodes (except Let He Who is Without Sin)

Filler is probably a phrase I got from TNG and Bab5 where they seem to go light on the budget for a few episodes then have a big episode with more budget.

But ye are right some of these are gold in themselves.

Well I would disagree on that definition of bottle episode — to me that's specifically something shot on existing sets, mostly with main cast only, with limited special effects, and also is light on budget.

It's hard to identify bottle episodes on Trek though because so often they're only using existing sets anyway! TNG's 'Disaster' is probably one, but it's harder to think of one in DS9. Maybe 'Civil Defence' or 'In The Cards' but even those had new sets or special guests!

Okay but that's almost word for word the definition of bottle episode on the site linked to (sorry if you missed the link in the other post). Produced cheaply, with a few regular cast, and existing sets:

In episodic television, a bottle episode or bottle show is an episode produced cheaply and restricted in scope to use as few regular cast members, effects and sets as possible.

They even specifically mention TNG as their first example:

The TV series Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987-1994) would include bottle episodes during a season, with the intention of keeping the cost down so that other episodes could have more money for special effects.

Anyway, bottle episode isn't the same as a filler episode. Bottle episodes aren't necessarily filler, and "filler episode" doesn't really make sense when talking about episodic television. New week, new planet, new adventure. There's very little "arc" to worry about progressing, most of the time.

Another favourite is that sailing one with Sisko and Jake.

Favourite of mine. Love the idea of solar sailing.

It's Only a Paper Moon is essentially a bottle episode and is a very significant one.

Unrelated I was watching the final episodes yesterday. The ones where Odo is sick and I was really irrationally annoyed about how Odo's hair was all scraggy when he was sick. His hair is made of the same stuff as the rest of him so should degrade the same.

I think they somewhat imply that the intergrated systems of the station was so very different to Federation standards that they just couldn't put in LCARS, Majel Barrett voice and all…

It's touched upon when Zimmerman asks why DS9 doesn't have an EMH. Sisco mentions that they couldn't due to compatibility issues.

You do see bits of LCARS here and there. From PADDs, Desk workstations, Keiko's school and various wall-mounted LCARS "white boards" that I'm guessing were shipped into rooms that didn't already have a Cardassian screen. Given the amount of trouble The Chief had with getting DS9 functional in the early days, my guess is that replacing the entire computer core was more trouble than it was worth. Also, the Bajorans had probably gotten used to Cardassian tech during the Occupation and likely had an easier time using & maintaining DS9 as it is.